Newsome set to captain Waratahs as Gordon, Walton injury lay-offs revealed
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Alex Newsome will captain the Waratahs against the Brumbies this weekend in place of injured skipper Jake Gordon who will spend the next six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Newsome, who has vice-captained the side in recent times, will be promoted for the round-two clash in Canberra on Saturday in Gordon’s absence.
Alex Newsome is set to lead NSW this weekend against the Brumbies. Credit:Getty Images
Gordon injured his ankle on Friday in the Waratahs’ dismal 41-7 loss at Suncorp Stadium and his worst fears were confirmed on Tuesday with the news he has suffered a syndesmosis injury and won’t be back until the final few games of the season at best.
The hits keep coming for NSW just a few days into their 2021 campaign with news that No.12 Joey Walton could be out for up to three months with his ankle injury. The Waratahs are yet to put a timeline on his return but the 20-year-old is set for a significant stint on the sideline.
Former Parramatta Eels lock Tepai Moeroa has been dealing with a knee complaint but could fill Walton’s void in the No.12 jersey for Saturday’s all-important derby in the nation’s capital.
With new Waratahs recruit Izaia Perese suspended until round six following his dangerous tackle on Hunter Paisami, Newsome could shift into the centres.
“Nobby has been a leader the whole year,” said Waratahs winger James Ramm of Newsome. “He’s been around a fair while, he’s well respected by all the boys. He’ll have no trouble stepping up there.
“He’s been vice-captain before and he’s a massive leader within the team. The amount of talk he gets through on the field and at training is crazy.”
Some thought Newsome would captain NSW last year in the absence of Rob Simmons but coach Rob Penney opted to bring Michael Hooper back into the role. It is understood Penney favoured Hooper because he would be in the middle of the field more often.
Ramm can’t see why Newsome couldn’t lead the side from out wide.
“Wherever he plays, he’ll do the job,” Ramm said. “Losing your captain is huge but there’s nothing you can do it about.”
The Waratahs will welcome back Lachie Swinton, who has served a suspension stemming from a red card on his Test debut in Brisbane against the All Blacks. Swinton, who has lived with Newsome, endorsed his leadership qualities.
“He has an immense amount of knowledge,” Swinton said. “I don’t know if you could hear him [at training] but he’s definitely loud. He has seamlessly transitions into that.”
Swinton is set to take Will Harris’ spot at No.6 in a NSW back row that will feature Carlo Tizzano, who had an impressive match in Brisbane, and Jack Dempsey. Swinton and Tizzano have been known to butt heads at training in the past and the pair together could cause the Brumbies real trouble.
“He’s 110 per cent all the time,” said Swinton of Tizzano. “I have a lot of respect and just really excited to play with him.”
The Waratahs are likely to bring in Mitch Short in as an injury replacement for Gordon. NSW have not beaten the Brumbies in their last six outings.
“The boys that will step in will be able to do their job, I have no doubt about that,” Ramm said. “There is a big change with three of the backline moving out but it happens. It shouldn’t be a step backwards this week.”
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Tom Decent is a journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald